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the addresses stated on the forms, in 90 they had left the addresses, in 20 the
addresses given did not exist so far as Shoreditch is concerned, in 26 the houses
were found to be empty and in two instances they had been demolished. In a
number of instances forms were received containing addresses situate in adjoining
Boroughs; these were duly forwarded to the respective Medical Officers of
Health.
Evidence of lice were found in the bedding in a little over 8 per cent,
of the cases investigated. Compared with last year there seems to be a slight
improvement.
As a result of the Inspectors' visits a large amount of cleansing and
disinfection was carried out in connection with the homes and a number of
sanitary defects came under observation and were remedied. Altogether some 235
sanitary notices were served on owners and 47 on occupiers of verminous
dwellings in connection with the work arising out of the visits made by the
sanitary officers.
It may also be mentioned that 15 children, two of whom could not be traced,
suffering from scabies commonly known as "itch" were reported by the School
Medical Officer and 16 by the Superintendent of the Outpatient Department of the
London Hospital, the latter with the consent of the patients or their friends. In
all cases where possible steps were taken for preventing the spread of infection,
bedding, clothing and textile articles likely to harbour the mites causing the
disease being disinfected as often as appeared necessary.
It need hardly be pointed out that a very appreciable part of the time of the
Sanitary Staff has been occupied by this very unpleasant but at the same time
most important and necessary public health duty.
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE INSPECTION.
Including blocks of artizans' dwellings as streets, house-to-house inspection
was carried out in 73 streets, in the Borough. Altogether some 2,093 dwellings were
inspected and of these 869 were reported as being in a satisfactory sanitary
condition. In connection with the remainder 1,073 sanitary notices were served.
In 119 the dwellings were found unoccupied; most of these were tenements in
artizans' dwellings. In the majority of cases the defects found were of minor
importance. Special attention was directed to the houses in Essex Street in
consequence of allegations as to the large amount of overcrowding therein,
altogether 55 houses containing 453 rooms and occupied by 269 families, mostly
of the poorer working class, were inspected in this street. In six instances marked
evidence of overcrowding of the house as a whole was found. In 39 other cases
rooms were distinctly overcrowded and in 33 others there was some slight
deficiency of cubic space according to the standard laid down in the byelaws as
to houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family. In
all cases the necessary steps were taken for secuiing the abatement of the
overcrowding and some 49 sanitary notices were served.